<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
This Surah is named AL-FATIHAH because of its subject-matter.
 Fatihah
is that which opens a subject or a book or any other thing. In other
words, Al-Fatihah is a sort of preface.
</p>

<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
It is one of the very earliest Revelations to the Holy Prophet. As a
matter of fact, we learn from authentic Traditions that it was the
first complete Surah which was revealed to Muhammed (Allah's peace be
 upon him). Before this,
only a few miscellaneous verses were revealed which form parts of
`ALAQ, MUZ-ZAMMIL, 
MUD-DATH-THIR, etc.
</p>

<h2>Theme</h2>
<p>
This Surah is in fact a prayer which Allah has taught to all those who
want to make a study of His book. It has been placed at the very
beginning of the book to teach this lesson to the reader: if you
sincerely want to benefit from the Quran, you should offer this prayer
to the Lord of the Universe.
</p>
<p>
This preface is meant to create a strong
desire in the heart of the reader to seek guidance from the Lord of
the Universe, Who alone can grant it. Thus AL-FATIHAH
 indirectly
teaches that the best thing for a man is to pray for guidance to the
straight path, to study the Quran with the mental attitude of a
seeker- after-truth and to recognize the fact that the Lord of the
Universe is the source of all knowledge. He should, therefore, begin
the study of the Quran with a prayer to him for guidance. 
</p>
<p>
From this
theme, it becomes clear that the real relation between 
AL-FATIHAH and
the Quran is not that of an introduction to a book but that of a
prayer and its answer. AL-FATIHAH is the prayer
 from the servant and
the Quran is the answer from the Master to his prayer. The servant
prays to Allah to show him guidance and the Master places the whole of
the Quran before him in answer to his prayer, as if to say, "This is
the Guidance you begged from Me."
</p>

